We ride the bus to Provincetown on Saturday to get our van and go biking among the dunes (Malachi crashes into a tree … ouch). On Sunday, we go the Head of the Meadow Beach with Matt’s brother and his family. It’s great to see them and spend time together. The boys have a wonderful time with their two cousins. Rather than pay for dock space, we’ve been staying on mooring balls which are much less expensive.

Loading everything down into the dinghy from the boat before we go ashore.

That evening, Cape Cod Shark Adventures calls me back. They’re about 45 minutes away. I ask how the whole process works because I still don’t quite understand the cage. “Is our whole body floating in the cage or are our legs dangling out the bottom like shark french fries?” I ask. The woman starts laughing and says we are not standing on the bottom of the cage (clearly anxiety overrides my past experience of basic water buoyancy principles). I have not told the boys about it because I don’t want to scare them. Since the trip is now set, I share the news. Joshua is immediately on board, “I want to go!” Before I can explain that it’s only for adults, Matt jumps in. “No!” he says sharply. “It’s not for kids and, even if they did allow it, I’d never let you go. It’s dangerous!” How is it, I wonder, that he is completely supportive of me doing it? Are there no concerns about my safety? Having I been wearing my Bitch Cape too often? Is he thinking of upgrading and hoping for a mishap? I put these thoughts aside and focus on the upcoming adventure. At best, I’ll face my fear. At worst, I’ll get eaten and Matt will have plenty of insurance money to continue the trip.